Fastener



June 14, 1938. T, E FOURNlER 2,120,606

' .FASTENER Y Filed Sept. 15, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorneys i Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in means for fastening and securing window screens or storm Windows to window casings and the primary object of the invention is to provide complemental interlocking xtures which when applied to the window sash, screen, and storm Window, respectively, enable the screen and storm windows to be interchangeably placed on the sash in proper and intended position whenever desired and without use of tools or any major alterations in sash, screen or window.

A further object of the invention is to provide interlocking xtures which are substantially permanent when once fastened to the window casing and to the screen and storm Window with which they are to be used.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a spring locking device for securely fastening and holding the window or screen in place 20 by spring tension.

With the above object in view my invention residesin the novel construction,arrangement and combination of parts h-ereinafter more fully described With reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figure l is a plan View from the inside of a window casing and screen provided With interlocking fixtures in accordance with the presen invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one of the side frames of the window casing showing keeper plates with arcuate cam slots.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the screen replaced by a storm window.

Figure 4 is a View in front elevation of a side frame of a window casing showing a keeper plate with an angular cam slot.

Figure 5 is a vertical central section of the part shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail View of the latch unit to be aiixed to the screen or storm window.

Figure 7 is a sectional View of adjacent frames ci window casings and screens equipped with and secured together by the improved fastener, the parts of which are clearly shown.

For the purposes of this invention, the Window casing I is provided at diametrically opposite points near the top and bottom of the side frames 2 with recesses 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 5. Over each recess is placed a keeper plate 4 fastened to the casing by screws 5. The portion of the plate overlying the recess is cut out to provide a cam edge 6 and stop slot 'I. 'I'he fastening or latching elements which engage the keeper plate are carried respectively by the particular screen 8 and storm window 9 to be set in place against *Y or within the window casing. To this end, each side frame I0 of the screen is provided with an opening or recess II so located therein as to be positioned properly adjacent the Window casing 5 recess 3 when the screen is in place against the casing as shown in Figure 7. Disposed over each recess II and fastened to the screen frame by screws or other suitable fasteners is a cover plate I2 for a cup I3, the latter being housed Within and snugly fitting the recess in the manner illustrated. A comparatively short pull rod or pin I4 extends into the cup through a central opening in the cover plate and at its inner end is connected with a disc or washer I5 contacting the sides of the cup and serving as a cross-head or guide for steadying the rod in its movement inwardly and outwardly of the cup. Mounted on the outer end of the pull rod and turning about the axis of the latter is a keeper engaging element comprising a flat plate having a rounded nose latch portion I6 and a reduced portion I'I, the latter serving as a single hold or grip and being curved as shown to accommodate the linger. Rod I4 may be either fixed to the keeper engaging element to turn therewith or the said element may be loose on the rod to turn freely thereon. Concealed within the cup and encircling the pull rod with Vone end bearing against the disc and the other end bearing against the cover. plate is a coil spring I8. This spring is tensioned to expand between the cover plate and the disc and normally holds the rod Well Within the cup with the disc bearing end thereof substantially at the bottom of the cup and the latch bearing end close to the cover plate. Thus, in order to fasten the screen to the casing, the pull rod. is necessarily moved outwardly to align the latch element with the cam slot of the keeper and this movement is opposed by the resistance of the spring, which spring resistance is increased in proportion to the spring compression. The spring resistance is overcome in the rst instance by the pull of the linger against part I'I until the latch element is turned to cause part IB to enter the keeper slot and bear` against the low portion of the cam edge I6. As the latch travels over the high part of the cam edge, the outward movement of the pull rod continues with further compression of the spring until the latch element is nally seated in the stop slot. At this time, the parts are positioned substantially as shown in Figure 7 from which it will be apparent that the force of the spring against the washer I5 tends to hold the latch I6 firmly in the stop slot and the spring force acting against the cover plate I2 tends to bind the frame IIJ tightly against the casing 2 to provide a Weatherproof and insect excluding joint.

Due to the fact that screens are generally used over the lower half only of a window casing, for the purposes of the present invention they require but two fasteners for interlocking engagement with the lower pair of casing keeper elements. For full length screens or storm windows four fasteners may be employed as shown in Figure 3. Screens and storm windows are used interchangeably with a common window casing and the complemental elements of the herein disclosed novel fastener are permanent on the screen and storm window and on the window casing when once properly afiixed thereto. The concealment of the spring and cup Within the body of the frame and the general arrangement and construction ofthe fastener parts provide for a simple compact fastener inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install, the installation being such that the face of the frame is substantially devoid of unsightly projecting or objectionable fixtures.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:-

Means for detachably fastening screen and storm window frames in overlapping engagement with an exterior frame of a window casing comprising keeper means carried by a part of the inner edge of said exterior frame, a cup carried by the screen or storm window frame and opening out on the inner face of said frame, a cover plate closing the open end of the cup and attached to the inner face of said frame, said cover plate having an opening therein, a rod passing through the opening, a washer connected to the inner end of the rod and slidably arranged in the cup, a

Vspring encircling the rod and located between the washer and vthe cover plate, a latch plate connected with the outer end of the rod and having a rounded end for engaging the keeper means, the opposite end being reduced in Width and bowedto form a finger piece.

TREFFIE E. FOURNIER. 

